Tubular coupling for suction cleaners and the like



June l0, 1941. 2,245,151

TUBULAR couPLING-Foa sUoTIoN CLEANERS AND THE LIKE E. F. MARTINET FiledJune 8, 1939. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 raaarapaq..

Swan/wm June 10, 1941. E, F. MARTlNE-r 2,245,151

TUBULAR COUPLING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 8, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `lune 10, 1941 TUBULAR'COUPL'ING FOR sUo'rIoNCLEAN- Ens AND 'rn-auna i Eugene F. Martinet, Cleveland, Ohio,` assignerto The P. A. Geier Company, Cleveland,

corporation of Ohio Ohio, a

Application June a, 1939, serial No. 278,107

, s claims. (ci. 2st- 174) My invention relates to tubular couplingsmore particularly adapted for use in suctionvcleaners where separableair-tight connections, which in some cases are swivel air-tightconnections, are desired between attachment hose, tubes-nozzles, and thelike.

Telescoping couplings are frequently used in suction cleaners includingtwo tubular members one of which telescopes within the other.

members with a stop to limit the length of the telescoping portions, orthe inner tubular member may have an external taper for tightly f1ttingwithin the outer tubular member which is provided with an internal taperlor frictionally fitting with the external taper on the inner tubularmember. f

In other cases, some form of mechanical connecting means may be providedfor eiecting a positive mechanical connection between the usuallytelescoping tubular members.

In the case of swivel joints, separable swivel joints prior to myimprovements, usually each includes two swivelling parts inseparablyvassociated with each other, one ofrwhich is separably associated with atube or the like, so that dust accumulates between the inseparable partsof such a swivel joint.

In my copending applications for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No.131,857, and Serial No. 258,373,

'I'he telescoping members may be straight tubular pling in which theconnection andrdisconnection of the 'tubular members is'effected solelyby relative movements of the couplings kwith respect to each other, andrequiring no separate manipula-tion" of a release means for themechanical connecting means, thereby very greatly facilitating the useof the coupling.

Further objects of the present improvements include the provision ofsuch a coupling particularlyadapted for use as a swivel coupling, and in'which the swivel parts are separable so that dust does not accumulatebetween the swivel parta' v y Further objects of the improvementsinclude the provision of vsuch-an improved ltubular coupling preferablyincluding tapered telescoping tubular memberswhich may be when desiredconnected with usual non-swivelling tapered tubular `members offrictionally engaged tapered tubular couplings or joints.

Further objects-lof Vthe improvements include `the provision of animprovedl tubular coupling with automatically actuating means forconnecting and disconnecting the two tubular members of which Serial No.131,857 maturedin Patent 4 No. 2,184,881 I show various forms ofimproved air sealed tubular couplings which may have mechanicalconnecting means between two tubular members, or which may have eitherstraight or tapered slip joints between two tubular members, and in eachcase the jointure between the tubular members is'augmented and sealed bythe use of an improved resilient air-tight 'closure sleeve, preferably arubber closure sleeve located .on one of the tubular members inair-tight engagement therewith, the rubber sleeve extending from the onetubular member beyond the end thereof in separable or removableair-tight engagement with the other tubular member when the tubularmembers are in connected position.

The tubular coupling of my Patent No. 2,184,- 881 may be a swivelcoupling, but its mechanical connecting means requires manual actuationfor connecting or disconnecting the tubular members together. Y

The objects of the present improvements include in general, preferablyin an air sealed coupling such as set forth in my said priorapplications, a mechanically connected tubular -couthereof, and whichmay be made by additions to and modifications of 'the usual telescopingtapered portions of -a usual tapered tubular coupling or joint, thusenabling the improved joint to be made in its initial stages by the useof the same'dies used to make the usual tapered joint.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the tubular couplings,parts, combinations, a-nd sub-combinations which comprise the presentinvention, and the vnature of which is set forth in the followinggeneral statement, and

preferred -embodiments of whichare set `forth in the followingdescription, and which are par-v ticularly and distinctly pointed outand set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nat-ure of the improved tubular coupling of the present inventionmay be stated in genbeing assembled, straight longitudinal telescopingmovement of the inner tubular member into rubber closure sleeve islocated on one of the tubular members in air-tight engagement therewith,the rubber sleeve extending from the one tubular member beyond the endthereof in separable or removable air-tight engagement with the othertubular member when the tubular members are in connected position.

B'y way of example, embodiments of the improved tubular coupling hereof,are Iillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, inwhich- Figure lis a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a suctioncleaner nozzle and a plurality of suction tubes connected with eachother Aand with the nozzle by a plurality of my'improved tubularcouplings hereof Fig. 2, an enlarged elevation view of the nozzle ofFig. l and the curved suction tube to which it is connected by oneembodiment of my improved tubular couplings hereof, portions of thetubular coupling being broken away and shown in vertical section on thelongitudinal axis of the improved tubular coupling:

Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view thereof as on line 2--2. Fig. 2; n

Iig. 4, views of the suction tube and associated coupling parts of Fig.2 separated from the nozzle and its associated coupling parts;

Fig. 5, a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, after the curvedsuction tube has: been twisted to displace the spring presseddetent'from the recess so that the tubular members of the,

coupling may be. longitudinally separated;

Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view thereof as Fig. 7, a fragmentaryelevation view with portions broken away and illustrated in longitudinalaxial section showing a second embodiment of n my improved couplinghereof; l Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a third embodiment ofmy improved tubular coupling hereof: and

Fig. 9, a transverse sectional view thereof as on line l-I, Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive there is illustrated one embodiment indicatedgenerally by lll of the improved tubular coupling hereof, which may betermed an automaticdetent connectable and disconnectable air sealedseparable tubular coupling, and which is a swivel coupling which con-'which as shown is an integral end portion of the suction tube I2, and aninner telescoping tubu2 lar member or tube l2 which as shown is anintegral part of the nozzle Il constituting the discharge tube thereof.

The nozzle Il furthermore includes a mouth I1, the upper end of whichconnects with the inner end of the tube' I2 and the lower end of whichoutwardlyfiares and terminates in the pling is assembled u best shown inFig. 2.

In the coupling Il. as shown, the spring pressed detent or detent member22 includes a cylindric shank l22 extending through a cylindric aperture22 formed in one side of the tube l2, the inner end of the cylindricshank 22 within the tubular passageway 24 of the tube ,Il having anenlarged head 2l# formed vthereon, and the other outer end of the shank22 having a flat circumferential end face or surface 22 at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of the cylindric shank 22.

Spring pressure for the spring pressed detent 20, as shown, is suppliedby a flat, spring 21 located within the tubular passageway 2l of theVtube l2 and having one end abutting against f. the enlarged head 2B ofthe detent 22 and its other end secured as by a rivet 22 'to the tubularwall 22 of the tube Il.

'I'he inner tube Il includes the tubular wall 29 having as shown aninternal cylindric tubular surface 2l and an external tapered conicaltubular surface 2|: and the outer tube Ii includes a tubular wall 22which as shown has an internal tapered or conical tubular surface '22and an external tapered or conical tubular surface 2l,

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the recess 2| is formed in the tubularwall 22 of the outer tube I5; and in the coupling Il, the recess 2| isin the form of a recessed slot eut through the tube wall 22 andextending circumferentially around a substantial portion of the tubewall 22 and terminating at opposite circumferentially spaced ends formedby angled tongue portions 35 and 2l of the tube wall 22.

For the purposes of the-present improvements, when the detent member 22has a flat end face 20, the tubular member Il terminates in an outwardlyflaring end portion 21, by which the inner tubularsurface 22 of thetubular member I5 is formed with an entrance portion 2 2 winch islongitudinally tapered or sloping with respect to the tubular axis 22 ofthe tube Il.

The tongues 2l and 2l have opposite circumferentially tapered or slopinginner surfaces Il and Il respectively as best shown in Fig. 3.

The several sloping surfaces 2l, 4l, and Il of the internal tubularsurface I2 of the tubular member IllV and the flat end surface 2t of thedetent member 2l may be termed a plurality ofdiiferently slopingsurfaces of the members, since the slope of each is different than theslope of the other, regardless of the plane of reference.

By this arrangement of the several differently slopingsurfaces of thetubular member I and the detent member 25, the automatic actuation ofthe detent member 2l for detent connecting and disconnecting the tubularmembers I5 and I6 with each other is eii'ected by successively impingingthe differently sloping surfaces of the tubular member and the detentmember with each other for successively displacing the detent memberduring successive movements of the telescoping tubular members withrespect to each other. l

When the tubular members I5 and I6 are separated as shown in Fig. 4,longitudinal teiescoping movement of the inner tubular member I6 intothe outer tubular member I5 serves first to impinge' the fiat surface 26of the detent member 20 against the longitudinally tapered or slopingsurface portion 38, displacing the spring pressed de,

-tent member 20 in sliding abutment with the internal tubular surface ofthe tube I5 until the length of the telescopic overlap of thetelescopically assembled tubular members I5 and I6 is such that thespring pressed detent member 20 registers with and protudes into therecess or slot 2|, at which time the tubular members I5 and I6 areautomatically mechanically connected.

For automatically releasing the mechanical connection between thetubular members I5 and I6, the assembled telescoped tubular members I5and I6 are twisted with respect to each other in a selected directionabout 'their tubular axes which as shown are common, until the couplingparts have assumed positions such as shown in Figs. '5 and 6, duringwhich selected twisting movement the sloping surface 4l of the tongue 35has impinged against the differently sloping endsurface 26 of the detentmember 20 displacing the same inwardly out of engagement with the recessor slot 2 I, so that thetubular members I5 and I6 may be freely pulledaway from each other and separated, as shown in Fig. 4.'

Similar displacement of the detent member 26 occurs when the tubes I5and I6 are twisted in the opposite direction and the detent member isimpinged by the tongue 36. Thus, the automatic release of the mechanicalconnection between the tubular members I5 and I6 is effected, regardlessof the direction of twist.

The recess 2| as shown is in the form of a slot cut entirely through thewall I2 of the tube I5, but obviously the recess 2| might be pressed ormolded into the tube wall 32 without cutting through the tube wall 32.

By making the recess 2| of substantial circum.

ferential length in the coupling I5, swiveiling of the tubular membersI5 and I6 is provided for.

Preferably stop means are provided between the tubular members I5 and I6to limit the length of the telescopic overlap of the assembled tubularmembers, and as illustrated' the stop means includes a stop pin 42having one end riveted to the tube wall 32 of the tube I5 and extendinginto the tubular opening 43 of the tube I5 for abutment by the outer endface 44 of the tube I6 when the tubes are in assembled position as shownin Fig. 2.

The taper of the internal tubular surface 33 of the outer tube I5 andthe outer tubular surface 3| of the inner tube I6 match each other, andare preferably the same as usual frictional taper joints or couplings,whereby the dies used for making such usual frictional taper joints orcou- 75 plings may be utilized in the initial stages of the manufactureof the improved coupling I II.

From the standpoint of a swivel joint, the internal tubular surface 32of the tube I5 and the external tapered surface 3|. of the tube I6 aresurfaces of revolution in the usual frictional taper `ioint andpreferably in the present improvements, permitting by suitable locationof the stop pin 42 of a relative close swivelling t between theassembled telescoped tubes I5 and I6, with considerably less play thanif thegtele-` scoping surfaces were cylindric.

The separability of the swivelling tubes I5 and 'I5 permits theswivelling surfaces thereof to be rubbed with a cloth so as to preventthe accumulation of dust.

Means for air sealing the connected tubular members or tubes I5 and I6are provided, which as shown are in the form of an improved resilientpreferably rubber closure sleeve 45 including a body portion 46 making acircumferential closure on-the outer tubular member I5 and having anenlarged resilient gripping ring portion 41 making a gripping closureengagement with the entire circumference of the inner tubular member I6.

The second embodiment of the improved tubular couplingindicatedgenerally by |I|I` in Fig. 'I is generally similar to the coupling Ill,with the exception that the outer tube ||5 of the coupling IIB is' notprovided with an outwardly flaring end portion such as 31 or alongitudinally tapered or sloping entrance portion of the inner tubularsurface of the tubular member IIS. In the coupling IIII the function ofthe longitudinally tapered entrance portion of the inner tubular surfaceof the outer tube I5 in the coupling III, is attained by providing asloping end face |26 on the detent or detent member |20 thereof, theslope of the end face or surface |26 being a longitudinal slope or taperwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular membersl I5 and II6.

The detent member I 20 is rivet connected to its -spring |21. y

The coupling I III operates in automatically mechanically connecting anddisconnecting the tubular members |I5 and ||6 thereof in exactly thesame manner as does the coupling I0.

The third embodiment of the improved tubular coupling indicatedgenerally by 2I0 in Fig. 8 is generally similar to the coupling IIU butin the coupling 2|.Il the outer end surface'226 of the detent member 226is sloping or tapered longitudinally and circumferentially or sidewisewith respect to the tubularv members :I5 and '2I6, whereby the operationof the coupling 2I0 is ideitiicoal with the operation of the couplingsIl an It is to be noted for example in the coupling I6, that by makingthe inner tapered tubular surface of the outer tube I5 have the sametaper as a usual frictional taper joint, suction cleaner attachmentshaving connector tubes with usual exf ternal tapers may be selectivelyfrictionally con nected with the tube I5.

In other words the outer tube end portion I5 vof the suction tube I2 mayserve either as part of one ofthe improved preferably swivel couplingsIII; or as part of a usual frictional taper joint or coupling.

This permits adoption of the improved coupling I5 without requiringobsolescence and redesign of suction cleaner 'attachmentsy having usualfrictional taper Joints.

The embodiments of the present improvements illustrated and describedherein-are by way.;of example, and the scope'of-the present invention isnot limited to the same orto the particular details thereof, but iscommensurate with. any

and all novel subject 'matter contained'hereinwhich may at any timeproperly under"the"United States patent laws be setforth in claimshereof or originating herein, the elements oi" any' ofsuch claims being:intended'to include their reasonable equivalents. "I

Iclaim: y l I I@ 1.,A sealed tubular coupli'gfior uctiontub'esincluding/two' tubular members arranged for separabletel'escopingjointurewlth each otherto provide an air` passageway from'the' one `intol the other,` one of the tubular Vmemliers'hja'aifing iaspring pressed lde teutv 'operativeiyi'mounted thereon; the 'othertubular memberuhavingfa' de tent receiving recess slot formed in itstube w'all 'and extending circumferentially 'around a sub-' i stantialVportion thereof for permitting substantial relative 'rotation betweentheA tubular 'members with sai'ddetent received in 'said recess slot,the detent and the ends ofsaid recess'slot' being so constructed andarranged that When 'said tubular members are twisted with respect toeach other 'ineither -dir'e'ction for permitting separation' of thetubular members the detent is displaced" and released from the slot,and-'a resilient airfsealing 'closure' sleeve coveringsaid' recess:Aslot vand making va circumferential' closure on each of the tubularVmembers when they are connected together. y

2. A sealed'tubular coupling-forsuction tubes including two 'tubularmembers arranged for sep-1.-

arable telesc'oping jointure with each other-to provide-an airpassageway from the one into the other, one of the tubular membershaving-'a springv pressed detent operatively mounted thereon, the othertubular member having a detent receiving recess vformed in its tube walland eirextending circumferentially around a substantial portion thereof.for permitting substantial rela- .tive rotation between the tubularmembers with A'said detent(l received in said recess, the ends ofsaid'recess-havingsloping surfaces for automati- -.cally displacing .andreleasing said detent from the `recessfwhen thetubular members aretwisted f with respect toeach other in either direction a requiredamount, and a resilient air sealing clol`circumfereritial"closure oneach of the tubular surevsleevecovering said recess and making a memberswhen they are connected together.

3. A-.se'aled :tubularcoupling for suction tubes i'. including t-wotubular members arranged for seplarable telescopingfjointure with eachother to --provide ari-air passageway from the one into the other,'one.of the tubular members having awspring pressed' detent operativelymounted -.thereon, the other tubular member having a de- Atent..receivin'g'recess formed in its tube Wall and'fextending*elrcumferentially around a. substantial 'portions thereoffor permitting substantial relative #rotation 'between the tubularmembers with .-'saiddeten't received in said recess, the detent and theends of said recess being so constructed and arranged'that when saidtubular members are twisted with respect to each other in eitherdirection for permitting separation of the tubular members the detent isdisplaced and released from the-recess, said recessed tubular vmemberhaving 'a ared end portion for automatically displacing. said detentwhen said tu- --bular'members are being telescoped together,

:and a resilient air sealing closure sleeve cover- 35..-

'closure on said recessed tubular member and extending" beyond andinwardly of said ared end .portion for makingcircumferential closurewith 0- thev other tubular member.

ingsaiderecess and making a circumferential EUGENE F. MARTINET.

